The former child actor, known for his role as Ben Seaver on the hit 1980s TV series "Growing Pains," told ET that his alcoholism began when he was a child. He said he would routinely finish off cups of beer left by relatives at family functions.

"My grandparents actually tell a story about how at 4 years old I would run around after their parties and clean up everybody's beers," Miller told ET.

But it wasn't until after the show ended, when he was an adult, that he began binge drinking.

"I'd rush immediately to the liquor store to get something — usually two or three cans of high-gravity malt liquor and then by noon I'd be working on a pint of whatever I decided to buy — bourbon, vodka. By the evening I'd be working on another," Miller said.

His alcohol dependence became so destructive that the actor considered suicide on more than one occasion to end the pain.

"There were probably a few nights it was awful close," Miller said. "I'm glad I did not own a gun, because I hated myself so thoroughly, I would have done something very stupid."

According to Miller, his extreme addiction even caused his boys to be afraid of him.

Now 37, the father of three was able to turn around his life through a combination of therapy and having an anti-alcoholism drug known as Naltrexone injected under his skin.

"It's just a small pellet ... and it blocks the craving signals from being able to be received," Miller added.

According to ET, the drug therapy costs approximately $25,000 and has yet to be approved by the FDA.

Miller has reportedly used his own battle against addiction to help others, becoming a patient advocate out of the Start Fresh Recovery clinic in Santa Ana, Calif.

After having taken a hiatus from acting for several years, Miller is now said to be back in front of the camera.